Process of producing an extract of proteolytic enzyms.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\ TOMEROSUKE MUTO, OF KOBE, JAPAN, ASSIGNOB 'IO KANEGAFUCHI BOSEKI KABUSHIKI K'WAISHA, OF TOKYO-EU, JAPAN.

PROCESS OF PRODUCING AN EXTRACT OF PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES.

1,296,600. No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TOMENOSUKE Mu'ro, a subject of the Empire of Japan, residing at 27 9 Minatomachi l-chome, Kobe, Japan,

have invented a certain new and useful Process of Producing an Extract of Proteolytic Enzyms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the process of extracting proteolytic enzym from the bodies ofsilkworms and several other cocoon-forming insects at any stage of their growth, as well asfrom their secretions and discharges, and has for its object to produce a new sort of proteolytic enzym very easily and economically, and thereb to produce the same practically and usefully for industrial and medical uses. Silkworms and several other cocoon-forming insects, in their metamorphoses from pupae into moths, each secretes a certain juice by which a portion of the cocoon is softened and loosened. Considering that this softening and loosening is due, not to a physical action of wetting nor merely to an action of alkaline matter contained in the juice, but mainly to an action of certain ingredients existing in the juice, the inventor has devoted himself to the investigation of said sexzretion, and has now discovered there-c in a certain proteolytic enzym which is capable of dissolving albumin especially sericin and thereby loosening fibers of silk.

Furthermore, the inventor has invented a process of extracting proteolytic enzym not only from the secreted juice but also from growth hereinafter referred to under the general expression cocoon-forming material) containin the enzym mquestion is digested wit water containing a small amount of sodium chlorid at a temperature of 5 to 15 (J. for six to fortyinsect eight hours, or at a temperature of 40 C.

, for five to fifteen minutes; if necessary,

suitable antiseptic materials incapable of in- }8 juring the enzym may then be added, and

Specification of Letters Patent.

(the

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

Application filed December 14, 1918. Serial No. 266,814.

' then the material squeezed. The extracted liquid, thus obtained, may be put into an evaporator, and then concentrated to about 5% to 10% of its volume, while at a temperature of about 45 C., and then the sediment is removed. In the extraction and Com centration. of the enzym, it will be obvious that temperatures should be employed which do not injuriously affect the enzym. The temperatures above stated are safe in this respect. Temperatures above 50 C. shouldv be avoided for reasons stated below.

According to the purpose for which the product is to be used, the said product may be then further concentrated to a paste or a solid. Moreover, a purer residue containing the enzym may be produced by the application thereto of an agent capable of precipi-- by the action of this proteolytic enzym. The

other valuable properties of this proteolytic enzym are: that it is most active at a temperature of about 40 0.; it is resistant to dry heat for some time, in that it can be subjected, in a dry state, to a temperature of 100 (3., retaining its activity to some extent; while in moist heat, its activity is gradually reduced at a temperature of over 50 C., and inmoist heatat 80 to 90 C. it loses nearly all of-its activity; it is somewhat active in weak acid solution, and is more active in weak alkaline solution, as well as ln'neutral' solutlons.

Now, as this extract of proteolytic enzym .can dissolve sericin or other proteid bodies in a short time,.it may be used effectively in filature, waste silk spinning, and manufacture of floss-silk, to soften or dissolve sericin and to loosen fibers of silk, as well as for finishing of silk threads and silk fabrics. Furthermore, this extract may be applied, like other proteolytic enzym, in medicine, as wellas in the preparation of other purposes. 5

Though several other proteolytic enzyms peptone and for hitherto known may be used for the above mentionedpurposes, yet most of them are too expensive to-be'generally used for industrial purposes. According to the present inmy copending 'in, and the preparation of this material When using solutions broadly, or when using glycerin-and-Water solution as the extractive material, are not claimed'herein, but in application Serial Number 164343 filed-April25, 1917.

I claim:

1. A process of producing a proteolytic' enzym from cocoon-forming insect material which comprlses -d1gest1ng such imaterlal with-a solution of sodium chlorid at a temperature not high enough to injure the enzym, separating the liquor from the undissolved matter, and 'then separating the enzym from the liquor.

2. A process of producing a proteolytic to the said substance, separating the liquor from the undissolved matter, and then separating the enzym from the liquor.

In testimony whereof I have ailixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

TOMENOSUKE MUTO. Witnesses: f

- KASAKU TAKAsHIMA,

SUEKICHI K100. 

